History, Architecture, Nature and Wellbeing

Sydenham Garden has a long horticultural history. The site was part of the grounds of Perrymount, a large house nearby, and was used as an orchard in the 19th century. By 1927 it had become the Wynell Road Nursery, which remained here until the mid-1970s. Elements of this history survive today in the Victorian Garden, which includes original and restored features dating back to the 1800s, when the site was a rose nursery.

The Resource Centre, designed by Architype and built in 2010–11, is the latest chapter in this story. Created as a base for Sydenham Garden’s therapeutic horticulture and community activities, the 136m² building was designed to sit lightly within the existing nature reserve and to connect closely with the garden.

The timber-framed building uses Thermowood cladding, extensive insulation and triple-glazed windows. Large windows, rooflights and carefully framed views bring the garden into the building, while direct access allows activities to flow easily between inside and out. The sedum-covered flat roof helps the building blend into its green setting and provides additional habitat for wildlife.

Sustainability was central to the design. The building follows Passivhaus principles, combining super-insulation with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, an air-source heat pump and solar panels. Natural, low-impact materials including timber, bamboo flooring, natural linoleum and wood-wool acoustic panels create a warm, calm interior.

The design was developed collaboratively with Sydenham Garden’s staff, volunteers and co-workers, ensuring that the building responded to the people who would use it. The result is a modest but carefully crafted piece of architecture where building, landscape and wellbeing are inseparable.

Your visit

Come and visit us for one day only as part of the Open House Festival and the Sydenham Artists Trail on Saturday 19th September.

Enjoy tea and cake in the garden and nature reserve, discover artworks made by our groups, buy crafts, find our hidden well and water pump and explore the relationship between the Resource Centre and its historic garden, look out for the sustainable construction and environmental features, and discover how Architype transformed a former nursery site into a welcoming space for community, nature and wellbeing.